All complaints are considered important and will be addressed by the college personnel, department, or appropriate supervisor. Complaints concerning facilities, employees, or other students should be directed to the appropriate department. Only written student complaints filed with the Office of Academic Affairs are considered official complaints.
Official Complaints are documented, investigated, their resolution noted, and files are maintained for no less than two years. These records and the log are subject to annual review by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Academic Council to determine patterns requiring administrative attention to improve institutional quality and preserve the mission of the college. Information in these documents may be shared with the colleges accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission, and any appropriate college official.
How to file an Academic Grievance
Grade Appeals
6.7 Grade Appeals. A student may appeal a grade given by an instructor in cases in which he or she believes the final grade awarded is clearly erroneous, assigned in an arbitrary manner or inconsistent with the announced grading policy.
The student grade appeal process must be initiated within six months from the time the student receives his/her contested grade. The procedure to follow is:
- Instructor–Student meets with instructor. If consensus is not reached, the appeal moves to Division Chair level.
- Division Chair–Student prepares a written appeal and presents it to the appropriate Division Chair. If the Division Chair is the students instructor, the appeal is presented to the Sr. Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs. If consensus is not reached, the appeal moves to the Grade Appeals Committee.
- Grade Appeals CommitteeThe Grade Appeal Committee is appointed by Sr. Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs. The Sr. Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (or designee) chairs the Grade Appeals Committee. Committee members selected will not be from the academic division involved. At a Grade Appeals Committee meeting the following events will occur:
- The student states in writing (and in person if the student requests) the reason for the appeal.
- The instructor provides evidence indicating how the grade was assigned.
- The committee evaluates the evidence, provides reasons for their decision and prepares a report. Written notice of the decision is sent within ten working days to the student, the instructor, the instructor’s division chair and the Sr. Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
- Student has five (5) working days to file a written appeal of the Committees findings to the Sr. Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
- Sr. Vice President for Academic and Student AffairsThe Sr. Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will consider appeals in the event new evidence surfaces or other unusual circumstances. The decision of the Sr. Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will rendered within thirty (30) days of receipt of the complaint and shall conclude the procedure of a grade appeal.